Lipoma and Liposarcoma in the Dog: Fatty Tumors
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: October 27th, 2019
Summary
Is that soft squishy lump on your dog something to worry about? It depends.
Many times dog lovers will arrive in my hospital and point out that their canine companion has a bump. They are soft, kind of like very firm jello. “Doesn’t seem to be causing any pain,” they say.
Hmmm. Well, it could be a “fatty” tumor. This is simply a tumor made out of fat. Yes, a big glob of fat, the same stuff that makes us chubby.
Some clients have used natural means to help their dogs with these tumors. I have had my clients say they have had luck with curcumin given by mouth. Curcumin is a part of the spice turmeric. In The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, I wrote about this bioflavonoid. It can be purchased as an ingredient in Apocaps, and also by itself as a sole agent.
Many dog lovers have heard of fatty tumors, and have been told by their vets that there is nothing to worry about. And many times, they are right.
Not every time, though.
Some Fatty Tumors Are Cancers
Here’s why: first of all, not every soft tumor is a “fatty” tumor. Remember mast cell tumors, the Great Imitators? Some mast cell tumors are aggressive, life-threatening cancers. And they can feel just like a benign fatty tumor.
Your vet can differentiate between a fatty tumor and a mast cell tumor with a simple fine needle aspirate. This is an easy outpatient procedure where the vet takes a sample with a needle and sends it to a pathologist. Many of us will review the slide right in house.
Another soft gushy tumor, especially on the limbs, in called a hemangiopericytoma. This is an unfriendly tumor, folks.
Because two dangerous tumors can look like fatty tumors (lipomas) I recommend that all such tumors get aspirated.
Some Fatty Tumors Are Dangerous In Other Ways
Secondly, not every tumor made out of fat is truly benign. Most are, and they are called lipomas. However, a small portion of them grow aggressively. They invade surrounding tissue. They often grow fairly quickly, over months, and expand. These fast growing lipomas have crossed the line and become what are called liposarcomas.
Get the Dog Cancer Survival Guide to learn more on how veterinarians diagnose and stage cancer in Chapter 9
The reason it matters is that they can become quite large. And you remove them and they will often regrow, since they are difficult to remove. You think you got ’em, and they come back.
Liposarcomas are not good news. So again, if you have a rapidly growing, fatty tumor, get it out. You might be dealing with a liposarcoma, and they can be tough. Have the vet biopsy the edge, and make sure they include adjacent muscle, or the path folks may complain they don’t have enough data to make a call.
Best to all,
Dr Dressler
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Hi Beth,
I don’t have statistics for you as to how common this sype of lump is, and of course you don’t know yet what it is made up of. If it is fatty, Preds, or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory is not likely to reduce it. Any lump or blockage in that area could certainly cause discomfort. It sounds like you might need a vet more experienced in soft tissue surgery to find out whether it’s possible to get a bioppsy of that lump, or try to reduce or remove it. OR, consult with a vet oncologist. If you have a good relationship with your present vet you can ask directly “can you aspirate or remove this lump or refer me to someone who does this type of surgery?” Sometimes our dogs, once they have had pain or discomfort eating associate any food with that pain even if the cause of the pain is no longer there. So if the medication has helped, your boy may still be scared of swallowing and feeling uncomfortable. Plus the stress around the food is hard to avoid; he has had discomfort and you are desperate to get food into him. I know this scenario myself. Have you tried chicken broth? Not the kind from a can, but the broth you get from simmering chicken in a big pot? It’s about as irresistable as it can get for a dog, and full of nutrition. You can puree that tender chicken in a blender with some broth and give him a easy to swallow paste. Also, lightly cooked, runny eggs go down very well. We are all hoping for the best result for you both. Do please pursue a good diagnosis with your vet, make meals times as natural and stress free as possible for your boy, and let us know how you get on.
Hello! This blog has been so helpful. I have a 5 year old boston terrier who for the last 2 weeks has been very lethargic, drooling, and seems to have difficulty swallowing. He had some discharge from his eyes as well. Took him to the vet, bloodwork normal except elevated WBCs. Vet thought infection and tummy upset b/c of the drooling. Gave antibiotics and sucralfate thinking he had some throat/esophagus irritation. Also found a lump around trachea area. A week later, no improvement. Gave stronger antibiotics but still same symptoms. I’m worried about the lump. I think it is making him not be able to swallow and this is making him turn food/water away. Whatever he does drink or eat, I have to force feed through a syringe. I’m thinking some sort of tumor or growth in the esophagus/trachea. I guess the next step is a needle aspirate. How common is a tumor in this area? And if it’s just a fatty tumor, could prednisone shrink it so he can swallow normally? Any suggestions or thoughts would be so helpful!
Toni, I am so sorry. I know that pain. As hard as it is, for Rocky to have the glory of moving on while wrapped in family love… I truly believe nothing fills a dog’s heart more. He will always be with you. Good dogs always are. Take care.
Hi Toni, We’ve been so backed up and I apologize you didn’t get any response before this. Is there any more news? How is your dog doing?
Unfortunately, my poor Rocky passed on February 9th at home in my fathers arms.
Hi dr
I have a 12 yr old dog tommy,recently I recognised a small lump on head of my dog between both eyes I consulted with vet twice bt lump is increasing then another test fr my dog they taken samples of blood frm the lump….after waiting fr 3 days they said that this problem is indication for cancer……this information made my family members in worried situation..is this situation overcome by vaccine or not……please I need a feedback…
Hi Dr.
Today, my 10 year yet old golden retriever got rushed to the vet because he seemed to be coughing and we noticed a dark spot in mucus that came up, Almost like a small blood clot. We thought a piece of bone got caught in his throat because he has been “coughing” since he had the treat. X-Rays shows multiple nodules in his chest. Vet said it is most likely cancer, but she cannot be certain unless we do more test like a sonogram. She did not see a primary tumor but mentioned it could be behind other organs. She said if it is cancer, surgery is not an option because it is the chest. He seems to be having trouble breathing after he runs, which is when the cough comes. Needless to say, it’s been a horrific day for my family. I’m not really sure where to go from here. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hello Bears Mum!
Your boy sounds amazing, and 17… WOW! I also know what you’re feeling, so do take heart. You must have done an amazing job of loving him over all these years for him to still be enjoying his food and walks. So, here’s the thing. At 17, Bear is like an amazing man well into his 90s, if not older. Of course there will be challenges, and if he’s enjoying life so well with limited vision and hearing, he definitely likes his home and family. Vet bills can get very expensive, and some people, vets included, personally feel that a very senior animals should not be “messed with”. Understandably, there are people who will go to the ends of the earth and try every possible procedure to prevent the ultimate end of the life cycle. From our dog’s point of view, they live very honestly. They don’t ‘soldier on’ pretending that things are fine if they are in real discomfort. They can’t really. I promise you that as long as Bear is eating, toileting where he should, having the occasional walk and loving his naps and his life, he is not in great pain or discomfort. Animals may come to a point that we call ‘decompensation’… where weight loss is notable, they go off their food for several days in a row, and of course they may become incontinent if they lose the ability to hold it until they go outside. These can be signs that that beautiful body just can’t keep chugging on any longer. But until you see those signs, and you know Bear better than anyone, your instincts are showing you that he is a content dog. Your Mother’s phrases aren’t helping you, and I’ll bet Bear knows it too, even if he doesn’t hear all that well. Please don’t feel pressured. You may gently ask her to focus on what a great life he’s had and help you keep him joyful in these sunset days. The greatest gift would be to surround him in positive love. If that lump by the ear gets messy, your vet may be able to reduce it by syringing fluid off, which can often be done without anethetic. Bear sounds very placid which will help. I know the appts are expensive. You might phone and ask the surgery for an estimate to do just this. The PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) may be available to you nearby. They help with routine vet procedures when income is an issue. It never hurts to ask. I hope this helps. You will truly know if Bear reaches a point that he is struggling, and if you reach that time, talk with him and ask. He’ll tell you. Give him a big bear cuddle from me please. And take care.
My dog is over 17, a first cross Australian shepherd (apparently) – a rescue dog whom I brought to Bulgaria and then to UK from China. I’ve visited both the Bulgarian and British vet about lumps, one soft and fatty on his back and one on his tummy, plus a growing one under his ear. The latter has grown back, having been removed in 2006, and is now the size of a small orange (getting on for a tennis ball). Both vets assured me that all the lumps were benign, though no tests were taken.
When I visited the British vet this summer, she said the big lump was harmless and couldn’t be removed in any case as he is too old for anaesthetic. And that cost me an arm and a leg with the taxi and some vitamins at £26 (which at that price should have worked miracles). Now the lump is huge and nasty looking as well as heavy, and is weeping slightly since yesterday.
Frankly, as a pensioner, I can’t afford the huge vet bill here, just to be told again that there’s nothing to be done. He is also blind and deaf and has arthritis so he can’t run around any more. He enjoys his food and a small walk and is able to ask to go out to the garden for the toilet whenever he needs to, outside of his walking time. He is also able to bark to be let in the inner door when he’s ready, if we don’t notice him. Most of the time he sleeps.
My mother keeps calling him ‘poor dear’ and ‘poor old boy,’ which I fear is her indication that I should have him euthanised and am unkindly keeping him going.
How can I know what is the best thing for him? He has been my good friend for many years and I don’t want him to suffer, but at the same time I don’t want to let him down now that he’s old and needs my help.
I would appreciate any helpful advice here. Thanks for reading.
Mar, Can you contact the Sam Simon Foundation and let them know you’re worried about waiting based on her symptoms? They may be able to advise, or move things up. Don’t worry about what you did or didn’t do in the past. Take care of today and your girl. If she seems in real discomfort and you can’t contact the foundation, then yes, get her to a vet to try to help manager her symptoms please. When you take a breath and step back inside yourself, you’ll be able to make clear decisions. Good luck to you both!
My 12 year old Min Pin has two tumors on her nipples. It stared small and the Vets I went to said they were nothing to worry about. I should have been smarter and taken care of them in the beginning. One is very large now. I have an appointment for Surgery with the Sam Simon Foundation on the 15th to remove the tumors because I couldn’t afford to have it with another vet. The large tumor is getting bigger and bigger each day and I am not sure my dog will be able to go through this surgery anymore. She is uncomfortable and I don’t know what to do. Wait till the day of surgery or try to contact another vet. I’m confused and don’t know what is best for her at this point. She is still eating but eating less, she still wants to be active but it’s hard to do with the tumor getting so large.
I am not sure if she needs Emergency surgery or if I should just let her rest and wait for the 15th. Any ideas would help me, I can’t stop worrying but don’t know what to do. Thanks
Hi Kim,
Bottom line? Sure, it could be cancer, but it might not be as well. You must take her in to a vet. Heat usually indicates an infection, and that would be good news, compared to a cancer diagnosis. Just because the’re eating well and active doesn’t mean there isn’t something serious going on, but when they go off their food it can spell trouble. So this is a great window to get her in to the vet. Good luck! Let us know if we can help. Our fingers are crossed for you both.
Thank you Susan. As I came home from work today my husband informed me that our boxer now has a swollen front right leg with a knot on it and her right side has little bbs on it. Probably not good news, but she will be taking a trip to the vet first thing in the morning. Thanks again.
OK Kim, we’ll be rooting for you all. Get that vet diagnosis, digest it, and learn what can be done. Be prepared to ask questions and write down the answers. Even if it’s the diagnosis we don’t want to hear, I promise you, there is so much you can do.
We had to say goodbye to our boxer today. Diagnosis was cancerous cysts. More than one. Could’ve prolonged her life by a few months, but we didn’t want her to suffer with them anymore. Vet said she was really healthy other than the cysts. Gonna miss her, I know she is better off.